Surviving the End of the World (The Walking Dead fic)

Chapter 3: First Run

"So how did you get out of the city unscathed?" I ask Glenn as I drive down the highway. The streets are empty, with not a soul in sight. Houses are boarded up and cars litter the streets. Nothing dead or living around.

"Same reason why I'm coming with you. I can sneak by, what did that guy say? In and Out?" He answers. I turn right onto a more major road. It's more crowded, with a few turned-over vehicles and trash littering the street. A fire hydrant that had been hit by a car is spraying water all over the sidewalk.

I look at the surroundings, "Shit went to hell pretty quick, huh?"

"Yeah, there was a lot of chaos a few days before. Riots, geeks, it was insane. Have you had to kill one yet?"

I shake my head, "Haven't even seen one."

"Today may be your lucky day," Glenn says sarcastically.

We quickly pull up to the camping store. The doors to it are slightly ajar, but there's not a single car in the lot. "Think there are things still in it?" I ask.

"Guns are probably all gone, same with the dried food. Let's hope the tents haven't been touched," he says. I pull up to the front doors and put the truck into park. We both get out, looking at our surroundings.

"Sounds quiet," I say, before opening the back doors to grab a shotgun, "The other one is yours."

Glenn takes it, "Make sure you hit the head. The only way to kill them. Sound attracts them too, so be on the lookout."

"Got it. In and out, grab what we can," I grab an empty duffel bag and a flashlight. Glenn does the same. We walk to the doors together. I turn the flashlight on and shine into the store. It's around noon and so there's enough light pouring into the front of the store. I try to move the door, but it's jammed.

"Doors stuck. Probably from the crowds of people," I narrate. I pull the door harder and it manages to budge a little, making enough room for us to squeeze in. I look at Glenn, "Ready?"

He gestures, "Ladies first."

I slip in and take a look around. Quiet. I take a few steps in, stepping over downed shelves and glass. Glenn follows behind me, "See anything?"

"Just some empty shelves, nothing living," I answer.

"Or dead," Glenn adds.

"Or dead," I repeat. We walk past the empty cashier stations and into the main department store. Many of the shelves are still full of items that are used for hunting. Clothes still line racks, but the far wall with the sign "Gun sales here" is completely empty.

"It's a long shot but we can check behind the gun counter, see if there's anything left," I tell Glenn. I point to a wall on the other side, "If there's any food, it'll be closer to the camping area, with the tents."

"I'll check out the camping area. You're more familiar with guns, you'll know what to grab," Glenn says.

I shift my bag on my shoulder, "Meet back here in about 10, 15 minutes?"

"Sounds like a plan," he nods before walking to the camping section. I turn and head towards the gun section, keeping my shotgun at the ready. There still hasn't been any noise yet, and it slowly gets darker the deeper in I go. I flash my light at the shelves. There are a few gun accessories, along with gun holsters. I scan through them for a minute before grabbing a nice black holster. I go ahead and put it on my waist and secure my pistol in it.

The gun counter has been broken. Glass litters the floor, along with papers. I stoop down. There are blood spots all over the floor, along with bullet casings. I shine my light around me once more. Everything is still quiet, with no inkling that there's anything around.